The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
TROY STATE
Blazers Fall To Troy State
9/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 13, 2003
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press Writer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - DeWhitt Betterson rushed 18 times for 90 yards and the go-ahead touchdown to lead Troy State to its first win of the season, 20-9 over UAB Saturday night.
The Trojans (1-2) finally got to face an opponent in its league talent-wise after getting crushed by major conference foes in the first two weeks.
They took advantage, forcing five UAB turnovers, including Dan Burks' fumble with just over six minutes to go in the game that sealed the win.
Nick Hayes kicked three field goals for the Blazers (1-2), who fell to 1-3 all-time against Troy State, in just its second year as a Division I-A program.
The Trojans came into the game badly in need of a confidence boost after being outscored 89-12 in losses to Kansas State and Minnesota. They got it on fourth-and-1 at the UAB 36 with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
With the Blazers stacked heavy on the line in the short yardage situation, Betterson took the handoff, leaped over the collapsing UAB line and sprinted untouched for 36 yards and a 14-9 Troy State lead.
UAB had already committed three turnovers by that point, and the Blazers would turn the ball over twice more to thwart its comeback attempt.
Following the Betterson score, UAB was in position to regain the lead, driving to the Troy State 16. But Lance Rhodes' fumble at the 9 set up a marathon 17-play, 89-yard drive that culminated in a 27-yard Thomas Olmsted field goal and a 17-9 Trojan lead.
Still just down one score, the Blazers took the ball at their own 25 midway through the fourth quarter. On the third play of the drive, Freeman White forced Dan Burks to fumble and strong safety Rayshun Reed recovered at the UAB 33.
That set up Olmsted's second field goal, a 21-yarder that iced the game for Troy State.
The Trojans committed four turnovers of their own, including two that the Blazers converted into field goals in the first half.
The UAB defense wasn't as successful containing the Troy State offense, which racked up 256 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Aaron Leak, playing an entire game for the first time this year, overcame two interceptions by throwing for 131 yards and rushing for another 81.
His five-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead.
Darrell Hackney was 20-for-38 for 248 yards with two interceptions for the Blazers, who moved the ball into Troy State territory early and often, but couldn't find the end zone.
Three times the Blazers marched into Troy State territory, only to turn the ball over, once on an interception and twice on fumbles.
